Political insiders believe David Paterson needs to be offered a soft landing to help ease him out of campaigning for his seat — but the problem is finding something fit for a former governor, sources said yesterday.

The governor hasn’t been offered anything formally, despite months of speculation that Paterson — whom Democrats around the state have privately said is dragging the ticket down — could be given an administration post by the Obama White House.

But the speculation has also been that it couldn’t be a post that would require confirmation by the US Senate, because of the governor’s admitted infidelity and past drug use. That would rule out a range of ambassadorships.

That doesn’t leave many choice options for Paterson.

And insiders believe he may use the clumsy rollout of the White House’s move to ask him not to run to negotiate a high-profile position. But several sources have suggested the White House isn’t trying to broker a deal with Paterson.